Five new caps float into Cork
3 Jul 2008
Mathias Ahrens, Scotland coach, has called up no fewer than five new caps for this weekend`s annual Celtic Cup which starts tomorrow in Cork. The loss of the five Scots still in the Great Britain Olympic scenario along with the Azzurri Kelburne pair of Kenny Bain and Michael Christie, at present with the under 21 squad preparing for the forthcoming European Championships, has decimated Ahrens` options
That opens the door for newcomers Martin Johnstone (Grange), Wei Adams (Hillhead), Grant McCallum (Western Wildcats) along with goalkeepers Paul Johnstone (Dundee Wanderers) and Mark Fulton (Kelburne).
Ahrens said:"The absence of our senior players leave big shoes to fill, but I`m happy we have a good pool of talented players who can step up.
"If we`re organised in our defence and finish our chances up front, then there`s a good chance for us to get results in Cork."
A lot will depend on the Kelburne trio of Jonny Christie, Gareth Hall and Chris Nelson, they will form the backbone of the squad along with Wildcats` striker Douglas Simpson, who seems to have kick-started his international career.
As this is not a European year, the build-up has been limited to two friendly games against England and only Hall and Simpson found the net in back to back defeats. The Scots finished last in Wrexham last year, losing to Ireland and Wales with only a single goal victory over France as the consolation.
In contrast, the women swept all before them, taking the title with a hat-trick of convincing victories. Coach Keith Joss said: "We`ve got quite a different team this year, but we`re confident we can retain our title and build blocks towards the European Championships in 2009."
Much may depend on the form of Milne Craig Western striker Holly Cram. Scotland`s player of the year, now with fifty caps under her belt, is now a regular on the scoresheet at international level.
With the absence of several senior players, there are comebacks for Western`s Lorna Dobbie, who last played against France in the 2005 European Championships, and Wildcats` Julia Wilson whose last cap stretches back eight years against South Africa.
Both squads open against Wales today, then Ireland and France.